O sail­or, on life’s stor­my sea,
Your boat is driv­en to’ard the reef;
You do not know the dan­ger near,
Nor feel your need of quick re­lief.

Refrain

Take hold the life­line, hold it fast;
Your dan­ger then will soon be past.
Within your reach the line we throw;
Take hold be­fore you sink be­low.

The rocks are hid­den in the deep,
Your ves­sel will be shat­tered there;
Now is the time to save your life,
Disaster comes on un­aware.

Refrain

See! now your boat is in the shoal,
The roar­ing waves dash o’er its deck;
It breaks in piec­es, scat­ters far,
O sail­or, cling not to the wreck!

Refrain